AFCON history awaits: Our objective is to go through – John Keister

AFCON history awaits: Our objective is to go through – John Keister

Sierra Leone coach John Keister is optimistic that his side will make the round of sixteen. Speaking ahead of Leone Stars final Group E match, he noted that the prime objective is to reach the knockout stages of this year’s African Cup of Nations.

Keister side will be eyeing a historic lace to come of the group stages for the first time, and their counterparts are in search of their third in as many appearances for Nzalang Nacional.

The Leone Stars will face a different proposition on Thursday at the Lime Stadium. Equatorial Guinea – like Keister’s team, has shown strong character against Ivory Coast and Algeria.

This will be the first encounter between Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea at the Africa Cup of Nations.

What they said

John Keister (Coach, Sierra Leone) “This is a tight group. Our objective is to go through. The team spirit drives our team, we want to qualify. We adapt our strategy to the players we have, to play in an uninhibited way while respecting the opponent, a big team like Equatorial Guinea.”

Steven Caulker (Defender, Sierra Leone) “Twenty-five years ago, a generation represented Sierra Leone well on the international stage. It is a source of pride for us to take over. We showed tactical discipline and braveness. I saw the images of celebration and popular jubilation in the country, that’s the magic of football, reconciling a whole country.”

Both sides have gained respect and admiration in the tournament in Cameroon. Sierra Leone came from behind twice to draw parity against the Ivory Coast whilst Equatorial Guinea ended Algeria’s long unbeaten run.

African Football News – Follow us on Twitter @football_sierra On Facebook & Instagram: Football Sierra Leone in Douala, Cameroon.

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AFCON 2021: Ghana Black Stars knocked out by Comoros

AFCON 2021: Ghana Black Stars knocked out by Comoros

Ghana have been knocked out of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations after losing 3-2 to Comoros on Tuesday night.

The Black Stars needed to win the game to stand any chance of progression from Group C, but despite a late rally, fell to their second defeat of the tournament at the Roumde Adjia Stadium.

The match got off to a thrilling start as El Fardou Ben Mohamed made history for Comoros after just four minutes, scoring his nations first ever AFCON goal. 

Problems then worsened for Ghana when captain Andre Ayew was shown a straight red card after 25 minutes. Ayew dived in after a loose ball on Comoros keeper Salim Ben Boina, and following a VAR review, was sent off. 

After the interval, Ahmed Mogni’s sensational solo effort doubled the lead for Comoros who looked to be in the driving seat with half an hour to play.

Despite playing with 10 men, Partey’s side went on to produce some of their best football of the tournament, scoring twice in eight minutes to level the game.

First, Richmond Boakye headed home from a corner to give Ghana hope. Then, Partey flicked on towards Alexander Djiku inside the box who bundled home with 13 minutes to play.

Any hopes of a dramatic victory for Ghana were quickly snubbed though as Mongi scored his second of the game in the 85th minute, turning the ball home from close range to secure a famous win for Comoros. 

CAF – African Football News – Follow us on Twitter @football_sierra On Facebook & Instagram: Football Sierra Leone in Douala, Cameroon.

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Striker Musa Noah Kamara wrote his name into the continental history books as the second-youngest ever to score in the African Cup of Nations for Sierra Leone at age 21 after Mohamed Kallon South Africa 1996.

Kamara made a brilliant start to life in his first continental showpiece with a fantastic effort to level the Sierra Leone scoreline against Ivory Coast on Sunday at the Japoma Stadium.

He calmly slotted home with his left foot on the top left-hand corner in the 55th minute of play, restoring parity for the Leone Stars after the team had gone 1-0 down to Cote D’ivoire from a twenty-five minute 1st half Sebastian Hallier finish. 

“It feels good scoring the first goal for my country in this year’s AFCON after 25 years. A dream come true, and all this wouldn’t have been possible without the support of my fans”, Kamara told Journalist in the media mix zone tribune.

“My fans are my heroes. They deserve the accolade, they are the ones who stood firm and requested my inclusion. I was always looking for the opportunity to pay them back with a goal, and thank God I did not disappoint”. 

Kamara is the top scorer in the Sierra Leone top-tier football league with nine goals and will be hoping to continue helping the team against Equatorial Guinea on Thursday.

Ahead of the group final matches on Thursday, Cote d’Ivoire on top with four points, Equatorial Guinea three points, Sierra Leone on two points and Algeria on a single point.

Connect with us @football_sierra, on Facebook/ Instagram Football Sierra Leone, the writer @bittar32 in Douala, Cameroon Contact bi****@*********************ne.net

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Best case scenario of reaching this year’s African Cup of Nations last sixteen for the first time in their history, the Leone Stars must beat Equatorial Guinea. The kickoff is at 16 hrs at the Limbe Omnisport Stadium.

A game that is expected to be a cracker between the West Africans and counterpart Equatorial Guinea, who ended Algeria’s 35-match unbeaten run on Sunday at the Japoma Stadium through Esteban Fernandez only goal and set up a cracker against Sierra Leone.

The twist in this group will be a win for defending champions Algeria over Ivory Coast at the Japoma stadium and a draw between Equatorial Guinea and Sierra Leone, which means the Leone Stars will end bottom with three points from three draws.

The two nations will face each other for the sixth time in their history with Sierra Leone having a better head to head advantage. However, Nzalang Nacional has shown character just like Thursday’s opponent. 

Sierra Leone is still unbeaten after their impressive display against Algeria, and they showed strong character against the Ivory Coast to rally a 2-2 draw.

The team moved to Limbe in the southwest region of Cameroon ahead of their last group match against Equatorial Guinea in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.

Meanwhile, the players and the technical team departed the Best Western Plus hotel in Douala at around midday on Monday and have arrived safely in Buea, the capital of the southwest region.

The team is lodged at the Parliamentarian flats hotel, about a 25-minute drive from the Omnisport Stadium in Limbe.

Sierra Leone with two points from two games, while the Ivorians top the group with four points to their name.

However, the Elephants must avoid defeat against defending champions Algeria on Thursday (16:00 GMT).

CAF Limbé stadium

About Limbé stadium: Three tournaments in five years

Perched high up some eight kilometres from the city centre, the 20,000-seat stadium built in 2014 offers a breathtaking view of the nearby Atlantic Ocean. It is a pretty and modern enclosure, equipped with an athletics track, a natural grass playing area, access roads adapted for disabled people, state-of-the-art press facilities and two adjoining grounds for training and parking.

Having been the first of the stadiums planned in the Cameroon National Sports Infrastructure Development Program to be built, the Limbé stadium has already hosted several international matches, including official matches of the Indomitable Lions. The stadium hosted the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in 2016, CHAN at the beginning of 2021, and will now host its third major tournament in less than five years.

Connect with us @football_sierra, on Facebook/ Instagram Football Sierra Leone, the writer @bittar32 in Douala, Cameroon Contact bi****@*********************ne.net.

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Equatorial Guinea ended Algeria’s 35-match unbeaten run on Sunday at the Japoma Stadium through Esteban Fernandez only goal and set up a cracker against Sierra Leone.

Fernandez guided his effort past Rais Mbolhi to beat the defending champions, and in the process, stop their impressive unbeaten run.

As a result, the holders must win against the Ivory Coast in their final Group E match to progress to the last sixteen of the continental showpiece.

The Nzalang Nacional came into the match following their narrow defeat to Cote d’Ivoire, and they battle with the highly fancied Algerians.

Goalkeeper Owono Ngua had to be at his best to keep out the Desert Foxes who brought in Slimani and Brahimi as they look to rescue their unbeaten run.

The Desert Foxes came into the match on the back of their goalless stalemate against Sierra Leone in the first match.

A positive result for the Nzalang Nacional ahead of their decider against Sierra Leone, who played to a 2-2 draw against the Ivory Coast earlier on Sunday.

Sierra Leone with two points from two games, while the Ivorians top the group with four points to their name.

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African Football News – Follow us on Twitter @football_sierra On Facebook & Instagram: Football Sierra Leone in Douala, Cameroon.

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Bo Rangers striker Musa Noah Kamara and Alhaji Kamara scored their first African Cup of Nations goals for Sierra Leone in the 2-2 draw against Ivory Coast at the Japoma Stadium in Douala.

Sierra Leone started very slow as their counterpart Ivory Coast took the lead through Ajax striker Sébastien Haller in the 25-minutes before Musa Kamara’s 55th-minute leveller.

The Les Elephant wasted several chances before Nicolas Pépé, who was named Man of the Match, doubled the scoreline.

A last-gasp equaliser from another Kamara, Randers striker Alhaji Kamara collected a pass from former England International Steven Caulker to slot in as Sierra leone draws parity. 

Both sides played their part in an enthralling match, which saw Ivory Coast miss an early penalty but then lead twice before Sierra Leone hit back.

Keeper Mohamed Kamara, who won the opener Man of the Match, was at his best today after saving Ivory Coast first penalty. After 10 minutes, the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire earned a penalty after Wilfried Zaha was knocked down in the box by defender Osma Konate. But the Sierra Leone goalkeeper was up to the task when he reacted well to stop Franck Yannick Kessie’s spot-kick placed in the bottom right corner.

Experienced Kei Kamara made a vital goal-line clearance which could have changed the storyline for Sierra Leone.

Tention was mounting at the end when Cote d’Ivoire, in added time, brought in their skipper Serge Aurier, who was forced to go in goal after goalkeeper Sangare was carried off injured following his mistake.

Sierra Leone with two points from two games, while the Ivorians top the group with four points to their name.

However, the Elephants have a tough mountain to climb against defending champions Algeria on Thursday (16:00 GMT).

What they said

Nicolas Pépé (Cote d’Ivoire): TotalEnergies Man of the Match

” It’s good to have had this trophy but I would have preferred to have the three points of victory to ensure our qualification in the second round this evening. Now we have to go and keep working to make a big game against a big team from Algeria. We have to put out a big performance because the objective is to finish first in the group.

John Keister, Sierra Leone coach:

“Honestly, I wouldn’t have believed it if someone had told me that we would have two points against these great teams of Algeria and Cote d’Ivoire. Now we have managed to do it, we must continue to work to succeed in our participation in this competition, 25 years later, it is not a question of changing our objective along the way, above all we have a great match to deliver against Equatorial Guinea, after that we will advise, the work must continue especially at the level of the defensive organization, we have conceded far too many chances this evening (Sunday evening) unlike our match against Algeria.

Patrick Beaumelle, Cote d’Ivoire coach:

“Our dressing room remained silent, heads are low, we just gave two points, as a gift. What can be done in terms of organization on this second goal, I still do not understand, what happened, I continue to search, it is also the charm of the Africa Cup of Nations. On the other hand, we must continue to work to improve our efficiency with 18 chances, it was enough to score the 30 per cent to take cover.”

Connect with us @football_sierra, on Facebook/ Instagram Football Sierra Leone, the writer @bittar32 in Douala, Cameroon Contact bi****@*********************ne.net.

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